2015 Ford Edge

Edging upwardly global

For the second incarnation of its midsize Edge crossover, Ford is taking its show on the road. Late in the inaugural Edge's life, exports began to China and quickly escalated to 10,000-12,000 units per year. It seems two-box utes are as hot there as they are here and as they're becoming in Europe, where sales will also commence for 2015. Yes, the new Edge has been developed with diesel engines, right-hand-drive, full pedestrian protection and low-speed damageability standards in mind. That's good news for the North American faithful too.

The Edge follows the Fusion onto the latest CD platform, hewing a lot closer to the sedan's architecture than the last one did. This will make it easier to decide in the future to build the Edge alongside Mondeos/Fusions in other global plants, should sales demand it. Naturally the new body structure is stiffer in bending and torsion (by 26 and 16 percent, respectively), but of even greater benefit is the transition away from the previous model's trailing-arm control-blade rear suspension to a proper fully independent setup that we're promised delivers greatly improved ride while reducing body roll and increasing the overall handling limits by 15-20 percent.

Sizewise, there's growth in almost every direction. The wheelbase is up an inch (to 112.2), with length and height increasing by 3.9 and 1.6 inches, respectively. Only width is decreased, and by only a tenth of an inch. Ford makes that 4 percent increase in outer space count, however, by increasing inner passenger space by 5 percent, while cargo room jumps by 7 percent overall and an impressive 22 percent with the rear seat up. Yes, that rear window is more steeply raked than before, but there's a lot more length and height below the window.

And as is so often the case these days, savvy use of ultra-high-strength steel and other advanced materials is expected to drop the average curb weight by 50 pounds despite the addition of myriad new technologies, a few of which are making their production debut on the Edge, including the steering-wheel mounted ratio-varying adaptive steering, Enhanced Park Assist (which can now back the car into a perpendicular spot and drive you back out whatever parking spot you're in), side parking sensors to warn of impending brushes with poles or building corners in tight parking structures, and a 180-degree front camera for peeking out of blind alleys (it cleans itself whenever you wash the windshield). Practically every other feature Ford has ever dreamed up will also be available, including adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist, auto start-stop (a separate option on the 2.0-liter), the glove-box-door knee-airbag, and inflatable rear shoulder belts.

The Edge becomes the first Ford with a standard EcoBoost engine -- the all-new 2.0-liter (only the displacement and bore-center spacing carry over) gets a new twin-scroll turbo to fatten the low end of the torque curve. Unlike the current 2.0-liter EcoBoost, this one will be rated to tow 3500 pounds and will be available with all-wheel-drive (output and fuel-economy figures haven't been announced yet). Next up the option sheet is a 3.5-liter V-6, which will probably produce 285 hp and 253 lb-ft as before. The top-of-the-line choice, powering Sport models, is the 2.7-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6, probably rated near the F-150 version's anticipated 320 hp/370 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic with standard SelectShift paddle shifting backs them all.

Along with the twin-turbo engine, Sport models will get standard 20-inch footwear (21s optional) and a suspension fortified with fatter anti-roll bars, 10 percent stiffer springs, and starchier dampers (special monotube units in the rear). Lower-body splitters and cladding distinguish sport models, along with blacked-out side-window trim, a darker finish to the wheels, lamps, and grille, and more aggressive body-color fascias. Inside there's carbon-fiber-look dash trim and suede seat inserts. All Edge interiors look slightly ritzier, with real aluminum trim available on the upper models.Look for the 2015 Edge to make a fashionably late entrance in North America early next year, with global sales starting shortly thereafter.

A few Tech Highlights:

2.0L EcoBoost: New cylinder heads feature larger exhaust valves and incorporate the exhaust manifold, twinning the two center cylinders and the two outer ones into what looks like a single large-diameter turbo inlet pipe. It's bifurcated so that the inner cylinders feed one scroll while the outers feed the other. This setup traditionally bolsters low-end torque, but both cams have wide authority over valve timing and lift, so greatly increasing the overlap improves the breathing enough to add ample power at the top end as well.2.7L EcoBoost: Borrowing a technology from European big-rig diesels, the block and ladder-frame bearing carrier are cast together as a single compacted-graphite-iron unit. Lasers then etch notches where the bearing caps want to be split, and a mandrel goes in and expands to crack the ladder off. This makes for an extraordinarily precise and strong connection when the crank is installed. This is claimed to be a world-first for a light-duty vehicle engine. Another first: The upper ends of the connecting rods do not use bushings. The rod ends are machined to a shape that anticipates the maximum amount of piston-pin flex, then they're dipped and coated in a molybdenum material that fills the space. This simplifies assembly and lowers the ultimate engine height by the amount of the bushings (2mm).

*Note: Ford is listing 42.6 inches for the 2015 front legroom, but that figure is with the seat pushed all the way back, while the rear legroom reported is measured at the seating reference point. Front legroom at that point is 40.4, so this is the correct number to report.

The extra inch wheelbase might help a bit, though like the Taurus' 112+" wheelbase it can't hide the fact that interior legroom in the rear is likely not all that great. I remember years ago some people would not buy the mid-sized Ford Torino (bigger than today's Taurus) because it seemed "cramped" inside, but the Edge does a good job for what it is. I'm not sure how much bigger the Explorer is, but designers seem to be doing a better job providing as much interior room with smaller exterior-sized cars. This vehicle is quite cute in this color too! Hope it does well.

Can someone explain to me why it is so egregious for two car companies to have hexagonal grilles? There are so many models produced by so many manufacturers, do you really expect each design feature on every one to be unique? There may be a resemblance, but only someone with an utter lack of knowledge about cars, and perhaps cataracts, would confuse the Edge for a Santa Fe.

No to mention, Hyundai/Kia has been aping other manufacturers since its inception, and I would say probably more blatantly than a similarly shaped grille. I mean, has anyone seen the infotainment controls on the new Genesis? If that isn't a shot-for-shot remake of Audi's MMI, I don't know what is.

@Zack Kibler What's egregious is three of the headline cars on the main page look like each other. This Edge looks like the Subaru looks like the Sonata.They all look like crap. Even the Chevys are getting into the ugly hexagonal grille theme (albeit smaller) on the lower of the split grilles. It's one thing for everyone to copy each other (large outbound vents on the lower front fascia, large vertical a/c vents in the center of the dash), but the horizontal grille is an ugly look on anything, why do all these companies feel the need to use it? The oversize grilles make these cars remind me of modern day Ramblers, not in a complementary way.

@Slava@eric in oregon@Zack Kibler See Ford Taurus. Ford had the HEX Grill before the Korean Car Companies. And i agree the Korean Car Companies have been ripping off designs. I mean the Kia Oval and its placement on the product?

Besides this grill is evolutionary of the 15 grill. It looks more HEX because they've framed the grill and eliminated the wide chrome bars and replaced them with thinner bars.

Acknowledged, but in Ford's defense, it did own AM when that grille was introduced (on Aston Martins). It's also more defensible for a mainstream auto maker to copy an exotic one than for one mainstream to copy another. Simply because no one is going to confuse a Ford for an Aston Martin, but they may confuse a Hyudai for a Ford or vice versa.

The front is too angular, I don't like the front. Too many angles. The previous generation front was definitely nicer than this. However, I like the side and back of this new Ford Edge, it looks a lot like a Lincoln SUV.

I like the old grill better but i like the rest of the body work. I too like the fact that they are keeping the 3.5 V-6. Sorry I don't see the point of going to more than a 6 speed trans in fact in the mountains they are a pain. They are forever searching maybe on the flat they are more efficient but I'm sure that if ever repairs are need the cost would be outrageous.

Looks pretty much like every other "utility" vehicle in its class. People must like them, since I see a lot of them in parking lots. Keeping the 6 cylinder is a good idea, and yes, putting it in the Fusion would be even better. I simply do not see the appeal of these sport cutes Is it that people just like to sit up higher? Is it for safety? It can't be for people-hauling or fuel mileage. How many different models of CUVs does Ford make? It is hard to keep them straight. Like the light-colored interior. The grill looks fine to me. I imagine there will be a black one soon, so it can look like the new Camry, Charger, Audi, and old Mitsubishi Evo, since that gaping maw look seems to be new trend as well.

Well, I like it. I like better than the Explorer. Yes, it appears the hexagonal grilles are the new thing for vehicles. Now, Ford better be a little careful, because the Explorer is really not that different. I wonder if one is going to cut into the other's sales?

I'm not overly impressed with this new Edge. The interior looks pretty nice, but the exterior looks strange. I've never been a fan of the designs of Ford's global models. (i.e.: 2013 Fusion, 2012 Focus, etc.) I loved the looks of the previous Edge. Though the interior was ancient, I don't mind hard plastics as much as most people do, as I've driven too many cars from GM to care.

And for the record, I didn't really see Hyundai in it when I first saw it. The grilles Hyundai uses are much wider and are less symmetrical hexagons. It screams TAURUS to me.

I guess I'll be looking at a Venza. I hate the EcoBoost powertrains, which most of these Edges will probably come with, because of reliability, and the fact that they don't deliver when it comes to fuel economy. I'd much rather have the proven reliability of a Toyota engine. I realize the 2.7 EcoBoost will blow the Venza away in acceleration tests, but I don't really care. I'd much rather have a vehicle that will go 150,000 miles problem free. Yes, the Venza is old too, but I loved the previous Edge, so it won't matter.

I like the updated interior, but the exterior design and powertrains (apart from the 3.5) aren't enough to make me love it as much as I did the last-gen Edge. HELLO, VENZA!

In addition to my above comment, i'd like to say Kudos to Ford for staying with a 6 speed transmission. Though I like 4 speeds even better, I can't stand 8 speeds. Living in the middle of a hill, I hate how 8 speeds dump me out on the road in 3rd gear and I have to make the car scream to get going. The neighbors think I'm nuts. My 6 speed GMC Yukon will do that occasionally, but not usually. With 4 and 6 speeds you can just get up and go. Ford, I thank you, but Toyota has them too.

Now you all can reply saying I'm the most idiotic person in the world for hating a Ford and loving a Toyota (and GM interiors and 4 speed transmissions) I'm ready. Go ahead.

@Jare-Bear What exactly has proven to be unreliable with the Ecoboost engines? I understand in the early days they had several recalls and software updates, etc ... but we are over two years in to their production and not one person I know that has an Ecoboost (14 folks) has had any problems with them ... they are all 13's and 14's though

The front end makes me want to puke, but the rest of it looks good, and putting it on the Fusion chassis with IRS will help big time. Why they went backwards on the front end styling is beyond me, but they can fix that next year and have a really nice car.

Sure it looks like a Hyundai, but these Ford fans will give you a brief history about Hyundai, which is 100% irrelevant. Wanna go deep down? Lets talk about the person who invented the automobile. Karl Benz... So basically, everyone copied Benz. Right? WRONG!!! WHO CARES FOR HISTORY. This Edge has a front end that resembles a Santa Fe/Old Highlander. The rear end is some disproportionate Fusion. Wasnt this car leaked last year too? The interior is pure Lincoln except that the push button shifter and the other useless touch sensitive buttons are replaced by vents. And people wonder why Lincoln suffers in sales.... Ford is eating up Lincoln...

@Yoma Well I actually believe this car will help the sales of the MKX (Just look at the concept) Pretty sure they saw that problem, with the fusion and some other smaller cars in the ford line-up I thought this car would look a lot better... But Sadly looks extremely cheap (Excluding the interior) But do pay attention to history, styling of old bad cars will make a car look bad.

@Raul@bob saget@FordCosworth Does that even matter, excluding the most recent Hyundai's... Hyundai used to suck major ass, and this car resembles one of those old shitty and cheap cars that they use to sell. I wouldn't say it was copying, i'd just say it was a design fail; the interior looks great but that's about it.